Cotton picker doffer



Jan. 11, 1955 cAsslDY 2,699,028

C OTTON PICKER DOFFER Filed May 22, 1953 INVEN TOR. Fwd fassi'gy United States Patent CO'ITON PICKER DOFFER Fred Cassidy, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to Deere Manufacturing Co., Dubuque, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application May 22, 1953, Serial No. 356,696

Claims. (Cl. 56-41) This invention relates to dotting means for a cotton picker and more particularly to improvements in the dofiing means per se in which the principal objects of the invention are to provide a doifer that is relatively inexpensive, one that may be readily kept in condition by replacing various parts thereof from time to time, and one that may be utilized in machines of existing designs.

The conventional cotton picker of the spindle type comprises one or more cotton-picking drums mounted on upright axes and having a plurality of columns arranged about those axes, from each of which columns projects a series of vertically spaced spindles (barbed or otherwise). The drums are arranged in a mobile frame so that as the machine advances, plants in a cotton row are received between a pair of cooperating drums so that the spindles or fingers project into the plants and pick the cotton therefrom. The drums, as well as the spindles, rotate as the machine advances and the moving spindles are caused to pass through doffing means. Broadly, the dot]?- ing means comprises an upright shaft on which is a plurality of disks or equivalent means spaced apart vertically on the order of the spacing of the series or layers of spindles. The purpose of each dotfer in each doffing means is to engage the cotton on the associated spindles and to remove that cotton by a wiping or brushing action.

The fundamental principles just outlined have been known for many years and the present concern of the industry developing cotton-picking machines is improve ment in various important details expected to minimize the complexity of the machine and to cut down as much as possible the cost of maintenance. It has been found that the individual doifers in the conventional cotton picker wear to a considerable extent and must be replaced from time to time. If the dofiers are designed in such manner that they are assembled on a shaft to form an integral structure, replacement of one or more doffers requires disassembly of the entire shaft, before which the shaft itself must be removed from the machine. Various elforts have heretofore been made to provide individual dofiing elements that will eliminate the difficulty just referred to, but in the main these have not proved entirely successful. According to the present invention, the difficulty is solved by the provision of a dolfer comprising a plurality of disks, each equipped with several individually removable and replaceable doffing members or blocks. Each disk has a plurality of radial slots and the fit between the slots and the blocks is such that the blocks are normally retained in the disk or equivalent carrier by a mountable and demountable retaining ring. The shape of each block is preferably such that it is in the form of an H, when the block is considered in cross section, the block being mounted in the slot with the crossbar of the H received between the side edges of the slot and the legs of the H respectively overlapping upper and lower surfaces of the adjacent disk portions that define the side edges of the slot.

Stated more broadly, each block is carried by the carrier in such manner that it can normally escape from the carrier only in a radially outward direction, but escape in that direction is prevented by the mountable and demountable band or ring.

It is a further feature of the invention that each block projects radially outwardly beyond the proximate portion of the carrier and the projecting block portions lie on a circle concentric with the carrier. The inside dithe diameter of that circle, but the projecting portions of the blocks are radially inwardly yieldable and radially outwardly returnable to permit positioning and retention of the band. When it is desired to remove one or more blocks, the band may be easily slipped off as many blocks as are necessary and the worn or otherwise offending block may be removed. A still further feature of the invention in this respect resides in the provision of a groove in the projecting outer end portion of the block, these grooves in the blocks being circumferentially directed and lying in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the carrier. Accordingly, when the band or ring is slipped over the yielding outer end portions, it will snap into or otherwise be received by these grooves.

The foregoing and other important objects and de sirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent as a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, showing what is deemed to be sufficient cotton picker structure to orient the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts broken away and shown in section of the structure in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, as seen substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view, substantially on the scale of Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating the manner of assembly and disassembly of the carrier and its blocks and retaining band or ring.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the dofiing means is designated in its entirety by numeral 10 and is illustrated as comprising an upright central shaft 12 having upper and lower stub shaft portions 14 and 16 for mounting the doffing means in upper and lower supports (not shown) for rotation about the axis of the central shaft. The dofiing means conventionally operates in conjunction with picking mechanism including a plurality of spindles 18 arranged in vertically spaced layers as part of a picker-drum construction, a representative form of which is shown in the patent to Johnston 2,140,631. Only two spindles are shown in Fig. 1, representing two layers of spindles As will be understood by those skilled in the art, each layer of spindles comprises a plurality of radially outwardly projecting and somewhat circumferentially arranged spindles, conventionally on the order of from twelve to sixteen in number. There may be as many as twenty layers of spindles. Vertically alined spindles are arranged in a column and each spindle has at its inner end a bevel pinion 20 in constant mesh with a bevel pinion 22 keyed to an upright drive shaft 24. As illustrated in Fig. 2, each drive shaft 24 may be enclosed in an upright picker bar or column 26, which includes a radially outwardly projecting portion 28 serving as a bearing for the rotating spindle 18. The spindles not only rotate about their own individual axes but each spindle in each layer moves through an orbit generally about the axis of the picker drum of which it forms a component, the spindles passing into and then out of the plants in a cotton row. While the spindles are in the plant row, they rotate and accumulate thereon cotton from the open cotton bolls. As the spindles move in their orbit to pass out of the plant, they pass through the doffing means, such as indicated at 10 here. The purpose of the dofling means is to strip or wipe the cotton from the free, tapered ends of the spindles, all as will be readily understood by those familiar with the general principles of the form of cotton picker referred to.

The dolfing means comprises a plurality of carriers, each preferably in the form of a disk 30 and having a central means or portion 32 for mounting the disk on the upright shaft 12 for rotation about the axis of the shaft. In the respects just noted, the carriers could be otherwise constructed or otherwise mounted. The structure illustrated is merely representative.

There will be as many carriers 30 as there are layers of spindles 18, only two carriers being illustrated here in association with two layers of spindles, because that 0 portion of the structure is deemed sufficient for present purposes.

Since the carrier 30 is in the form of a disk, the peripherally outer portions thereof constitute peripheral means 33 providing a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 34. In a broad sense, the slots constitute a plurality of radiating doffing-member-supporting means, each having a radially outwardly facing free end portion, because each slot 34 has its outer end 36 opening radially outwardly at the peripheral edge 38 of the disk. Since the carrier is a disk as illustrated here, it will have opposite radial faces 40 and 42, the former being an upper face and the latter a lower face in the present instance; although, this is relatively immaterial, since instances are known in which doffing means is mounted on a horizontal axis. Therefore, the illustration must be taken as representative and not limiting. Each slot extends radially inwardly and has spaced apart side edges 44 and 46 defined respectively by adjacent portions 48 and 50 of the disk that border the slot. The terminal inner end of the slot is closed, as at 52, and the radial length of the slot is such that it terminates short of the central means 32. The slots are preferably uniformly circumferentially spaced about the peripheral means 33 comprising the peripherally outermost portion of the disk, in which connection it should be observed that the carrier could be constructed otherwise than as a disk and still contain the important features of the invention as herein pointed out.

Annular means in the form of a retaining ring or band 54 serves to selectively retain in and release from the carrier a plurality of dofling members or doffing blocks 56. Since each of these is identical to the other, only one will be described.

Each block, as best shown in Fig. 3, is generally of H-shaped cross section, with the crossbar 58 of the H received in the slot 34 and with the portions of the block comprising the legs of the H-as at 60 and 62-respectively overlapping the opposite faces 40 and 42 of the disk 30 and engaging the adjacent disk portions 48 and 50 along the side edges 44 and 46 of the slot 34. Stated otherwise, the leg portions and the shape and dimension of each block are such that the block is mounted in the carrier so as to be radially slidable on or off the supporting means comprising the slot and its defining portions, it being readily seen that the block and these portions are cooperatively interengageable to prevent displacement of the associated doffing member axially of the carrier, so that the dofiing member is normally retained against escape from the carrier except by radial movement through the open end 36 of the slot.

In order that the blocks or members 56 may be retained in the carrier during normal operation, the ring is made selectively mountable to encircle and retain the blocks and demountable to release the blocks. For this purpose, the outer end portion of each block includes a ring-engaging portion 64 proximate to the associated portion of the carrier, preferably projecting slightly radially of the disk edge 38. This portion of each block is yieldable, the block being preferably constructed of rubber or rubber-like material. These end portions 64 of the blocks lie on a circle concentric with the carrier and the inside diameter of the ring or band 54 is slightly smaller than this circle. However, since the portions 6? are yieldable, the ring 54 may be readily forced into p ace.

To further augment the retentive relationship between the ring and the blocks 56, each outer end portion 64 has retaining means in the form of a groove 66. When the blocks are in place in the carrier, the grooves 66 are coplanar in a plane normal to the axis of the carrier.

Thus, when the ring 54 is forced into place, it will snap into the circularly arranged grooves and will thus be retained in position against escape from the blocks. Since the blocks themselves cannot move axially relative to the carrier and since the ring prevents the blocks from moving radially outwardly relative to the carrier, the three components are releasably assembled and will not come apart in normal operation; although, because of the releasable relationship between the ring and blocks, the ring may be readily removed to permit removal and replacement of as many blocks as are necessary. The ring may be of endless steel wire or may itself be of rubber or rubber-like material or of any other material, as will be perfectly obvious without additional illustration. It will be clear that the same retentive characteristics will be obtained.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the ring is the sole means for retaining the blocks against radial outward movement. By the same token, the blocks, having their end portions constructed as described, is the sole means for positioning and carrying the ring. This makes the entire assembly one of extreme simplicity and low initial cost. Since the doffing blocks themselves may be economically produced, it is a simple and relatively inexpensive proposition to keep the doffing means equipped with new and eflicient blocks, thus materially increasing the over-all efiiciency of the clotting means as a whole.

Additional features of the invention, not specifically enumerated herein, will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art, as will numerous modifications and alterations in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated and described, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A doffer of the character described, comprising: a carrier in the form of a centrally apertured disk having axially spaced opposite faces and a peripheral edge, said disk having a plurality of uniformly circumferentially spaced slots therethrough, each slot having an outer end opening at the peripheral edge of the disk and spaced apart side edges defined respectively by adjacent portions of the disk that border the slot; a plurality of dofier blocks carried by the disk, one in each slot, each block being of generally H-shape in cross section and arranged in its slot with the crossbar of the H within the slot and normal to the general radial plane of the disk and with the legs of the H respectively overlapping the opposite faces of the disk and engaging the aforesaid adjacent disk portions along the side edges of the slot, and with the radially outer end portion of each block proximate to the peripheral edge of the disk; and a retaining band generally concentric with the disk and encircling and releasably engaging the outer end portions of the doffer blocks to retain the blocks against radially outward dis placement, said band being supported in position solely by engagement with the blocks.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the radially outer end portion of certain of the blocks includes means releasably engaging the band to retain the band against displacement axially relative to the block.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the radially outer end portions of the blocks lie generally on a circle concentric with the disk; the inside diameter of the band is smaller than the diameter of said circle; and said end portions of the block are radially yieldable to permit the band to be forced into and out of position.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the radially outer end portion of each block projects radially outwardly of the peripheral edge of the disk and has a groove therein opening outwardly and lying substantially in the plane of the disk to receive and position the band.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, in which: the portions of the blocks respectively bordering said grooves are yieldable to permit the band to be forced into and out of position.

6. A doifer of the character described, comprising: a carrier in the form of a centrally apertured disk having axially spaced opposite faces and a peripheral edge, said disk having a plurality of uniformly circumferentially spaced slots therethrough, each slot having an outer end opening at the peripheral edge of the disk and spaced apart side edges defined respectively by adjacent portions of the disk that border the slot; a plurality of doffer blocks carried by the disk, one in each slot, each block having means thereon engaging respective disk portions along the side edges of the slot to normally retain the block against escape from its slot except via radially outward removal through the open outer end of the slot; and a retaining band generally concentric with the disk and encircling and releasably enngaging the outer end portions of the dofl'er blocks to retain the blocks against radially outward displacement, said band being supported in position solely by engagement with the blocks.

7. A differ of the character described, comprising: a centrally apertured carrier including peripheral means providing a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots opening radially outwardly; a plurality of dotfer blocks carried by the disk, one in each slot, each block having means thereon engaging the peripheral means along edges thereof defining the respective slot to normally retain the block against escape from its slot except via radially outward removal through the open outer end of the slot, each block having a portion projecting beyond the peripheral means and said portions being arranged to lie generally on a circle concentric with the carrier; and a retaining band generally concentric with the carrier and encircling and releasably engaging the block portions to retain the blocks against radially outward displacement, said band being supported in position solely by engagement with said block portions.

8. A dofier of the character described, comprising: a rotatable carrier, a plurality of dotting members removably mounted on the carrier, and a retaining ring. selectively mountable to encircle and retain the dofiing members and demountable for releasing the doffing members; said carrier including a plurality of radiating dottingmember-supporting means having radially outwardly facing free end portions and the dofling members being equal in number to the supporting means and each member being shaped and dimensioned to be radially movable on and off its supporting means, each supporting means and its dofling member having cooperating portions interengageable to prevent displacement of the dofiing member axially of the carrier so that the doffing member is normally retained against escape from its supporting means except by radial movement as aforesaid, each dotting member having a ring-engaging portion proximate to the free end portion of its supporting means, and said ring-engaging portions lying on a circle concentric with the carrier; said ring having an inside diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of said circle; and said ring-engaging portions being radially inwardly yieldable to receive the ring in dofling-member-encircling position and radially outwardly returnable to grip the ring for normally retaining the ring in said position.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, in which: the ringengaging portions of the dofiing member respectively have circumferentially directed grooves therein and said grooves are coplaner in a plane normal to the axis of the carrier; and the ring, upon radially inwardly yieldmg of said ring-engaging portions as aforesaid, is received in said grooves.

10. A dofier of the character described, comprising: a rotatable carrier, a plurality of dofling members removably mounted on the carrier, and a retaining ring selectively mountable to encircle and retain the doffing members and demountable for releasing the dotting members; said carrier including a plurality of radiating doflingmember-supporting means having radially outwardly facing free end portions and the dofiing members being equal in number to the supporting means and each member being shaped and dimensioned to be radially movable on and oil its supporting means, each supporting means and its dofling member having cooperating portions interengageable to prevent displacement of the doffing member axially of the carrier so that the dofling member is normally retained against escape from its supporting means except by radial movement as aforesaid, each dofiing member having a ring-engaging portion proximate to the free end portion of its supporting means, and said ringengaging portions lying on a circle concentric with the carrier; and said ring and said ring-engaging portions being so constructed and arranged that the ring encircles said ring-engaging portions and is releasably carried solely by the doffing members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,247,682 Hagen July 1, 1941 2,619,784 Paradise Dec. 2, 1952 2,654,202 Millard Oct. 6, 1953 2,654,203 Parkerton Oct. 6, 1953 

